It's all kept Lee out of action so far, and his return to the court is still unknown.

The veteran guard initially suffered the injury when he was fouled by Ron Baker during a training camp practice. Lee missed all five preseason games.

He returned to practice days before the regular season opener, but wound up suffering a setback that has kept him out ever since.

"That was the thing, thought it was under control," Lee said. "Went back to practice full go, got hit again and irritated that nerve. It inflamed back up. So starting back over from scratch."

There's a chance he's getting close, though.

Lee, 33, said he saw a doctor and received a shot to relieve the pain and calm the nerve down, and so far, it's worked.

He will see a doctor again in a week, but he's already been cleared to shoot.

Even when he does return, his role is unclear.

New York Knicks' Courtney Lee dribbles the ball during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in Greenburgh, N.Y.(Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

Lee, who averaged 12 points per game last season while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from the perimeter, does not fit into the team's long-term plans as the Knicks develop their young players.

"You look around the locker room, everybody is young," Lee said. "It’s not the team going young. It’s what we have. I’m a guy that’s just going to go out there, man, know my role, compete, help the team as much as possible, whether it’s leading vocally or by example. That’s my mindset is just to go out there and do whatever the team needs me to do."

Lee is in the third year of a four-year contract worth $48 million, which means he's a candidate to be traded at some point if the Knicks can find a suitable deal.

Unloading his contract would also help their goal of creating enough cap space to offer a max contract to a free agent next summer.

In the meantime, the Knicks don't have many three-point shooters and that's an ability Lee can bring to the court.

"Absolutely he can help," coach David Fizdale said. "He’s a stable vet who can shoot the ball and defend. There’s always a place for that, especially with that young group of having another guy that can space the floor for you and guard is a good thing."

While he's been sidelined, Lee has remained involved while taking on the role of a mentor to the team's younger players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Allonzo Trier.

"Yeah, 100 percent," Lee said. "If I see something wrong I’m going to be vocal and try to help the guys as much as possible. After practice Tim and Zo were getting shots up, I was the guy passing it to them. So I’m just trying to help out as much as possible."

Still, Lee is hoping to get back on the court soon.

"It’s one of those things that’s kind of day by day," Lee said. "It comes and goes. But as of right now I feel a lot better."